C.J. Clark made two free throws with 11.3 seconds left and Riverside North held off a furious Long Beach Poly rally to win the CIF-Southern Section 1AA boys basketball championship, 61-58, Saturday afternoon at Honda Center.

Clark had 20 points and made 4 of 6 3-point attempts. Christian Gray had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Deshaun Highler had 11 and Dikymbe Martin, playing in his second CIF final, had 11 and five assists.

North was out-rebounded 38-22 but had 10 steals and forced 15 turnovers.

The Huskies, as do all Southern Section finalists, advance to the Southern California Regionals beginning Wednesday. Pairings will be announced Sunday.

North (27-4) led 55-47 inside of three minutes but the Jackrabbits, winners of 20 CIF-SS divisional titles, closed to within 59-58 and had possession in the final seconds before Clark dug a rebound out of a scramble and was fouled.

This is the fourth CIF-SS divisional title for legendary North coach Mike Bartee and first since the 2013 team that included now-senior Dikymbe Martin.

FOURTH QUARTER UPDATE: North is trying to hold on. The Huskies led 55-47 but 5-7 sophomore Darryl Clark Jr., has scored the last seven points to bring the Jackrabbits withing 57-54. After a North turnover, Poly scores inside to pull within 1.

THIRD QUARTER UPDATE: North closed the third quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 47-43 lead after the third quarter but star senior guard Dikymbe Martin limped off at the end of the quarter after falling on the final play of the quarter. Martin didn't start the fourth quarter but checked back in at the first opportunity. Christian Gray had two highlight slams in the quarter. Clark and Martin each hit 3-pointers during the late run and Deshaun Highler had a basket in traffic for the Huskies.

HALFTIME: A driving layup into the heart of the Poly defense by senior Dikymbe Martin has given North a 26-24 lead at halftime. Poly led 12-11 after the first quarter despite two 3-pointers from senior C.J. Clark but the Huskies quickly jumped ahead early in the second quarter.

Senior Deshaun Highler knocked down a 3 point, the Clark scored on a fastbreak feed from Highler and hit a jumper as the Huskies led 18-15. Martin scored on a fastbreak layup, Highliser scored on a fastbreak and then Clark hit a step-back for a 24-20.

The Jackrabbits, looking for their 21st CIF-SS divisional title, pulled even at 24-24 before Martin's coast-to-coast drive to end the half.Â

North won its fourth Section title under legendary coach Mike Bartee and first since the 2013 team won the 2AA title in Martin's freshman year.

--Jeffrey Parenti

1A Championship

Santa Monica 66, Temecula Valley 60

Temecula Valley had the lead, the momentum, and the advantage in nearly every statistic at halftime of its CIF-Southern Section Div. 1A championship game Saturday morning.

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